THE JAMAICA Environment Trust's (JET) Schools' Environment Programme (SEP), which was said to be strapped for cash and in danger of being shut down, has been rescued.
This, after receiving financial support to the tune of $3 million from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, through the HEART Fund.
A representative of JET told The Gleaner yesterday that the grant from the ministry has also helped to save the jobs of the seven members of the organisation's staff. The workers, who are employed directly to the programme, were facing job redundancy if the $12-15 million it costs to keep the programme going, was not raised.
Maxine Henry-Wilson, minister of education, youth and culture, said her ministry was anxious to assist because of the significance of the SEP.
"The ministry recognises the importance of environmental education in general and the excellent work of SEP in particular and is pleased to assist with the sustainability of this important programme," she said.
PHASE DOWN
JET will, however, be forced to phase down the operations of the SEP. The programme, which normally involves 353 primary and high schools islandwide, will reach only 200 schools in the coming year.
Diana McCaulay, chief executive officer of JET said, "The SEP will be smaller this year, but we hope to continue our fund-raising efforts to ensure SEP's expansion into the 2005/06 school year."
Other major funding agencies for the SEP are the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), the British High Commission and The Canada Green Fund.
The SEP, which is now in its eighth year, is the largest programme of its kind and is operated on a competitive basis, where schools compete throughout the school year in four categories garbage management, greening of school grounds, starting and strengthening of environmental clubs and an environmental research project. The programme has been designed to allow teachers to fulfil curriculum requirements while teaching in the SEP.
A teaching manual to guide the teaching of SEP topics was also developed by JET and is approved by the Ministry of Education.
